The constitution of matter : memoir on the probable constitution of matter, and laws of motion, as deducible from, and explanatory of, the physical phenomena of nature / by J.L. Riddell.

  • Riddell, John Leonard, 1807-1865.
Date:
[1846?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The constitution of matter : memoir on the probable constitution of matter, and laws of motion, as deducible from, and explanatory of, the physical phenomena of nature / by J.L. Riddell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    fLLcUUL(h&) THE CONSTITTJTIOI OF MATTER. FROM THE NEW ORLEANS JOURNAL OF MEDICINE, SURGERY AND THE COLLATERAL SCIENCES, for MARCH, 1846. Beginning at Page 592, Vol. If. —mc»aae««*— \i>isjfc Memoir on the probable Constitution of Matter, and Laws of Motion, as deducible from, and! explanatory of, the Physical Phenomena of Nature. By. J. L. Riddell, M. D., Professor of Chemistry in the Medical College of Louisiana; Melter and Refiner in the Branch Mint, New Orleans. 1. In all enlightened ages of the world, the studious and reflect- ing mind of man has sought out and entertained expanded views in re- gard to the physical constitution of Nature. Such views generally ob- tain credence, provided they harmonize with all the known natural phe- nomena. But it is frequently the fate of philosophical theories to fall before the progress of experimental science ; and, where such progress is great and rapid—where multitudes of new physical facts are brought to light, as they have been within a century past—it becomes a matter of deep philosophical interest, to collate and compare them with the preva- lent philosophical opinions, in order to determine whether some modi- fication of such opinions be not required. 2. Within little more than half a century past, human knowledge has been enriched and enlarged by the entire science of electro-dynamics, by the doctrine of combining proportions in chemistry, and by great dis- coveries and advances in all departments of physical science; The par- allax of many fixed stars has been determined, and the existence of a subtile inter-planetary resisting medium has been established. In the work of deducing, from known and special phenomena, more general laws and conditions, we have advantages, therefore, that were not possess- ed by Newton, Descartes, or the ancients. In the following pages I shall set forth such conclusions as I have arrived at, in calmly and carefully at- tempting to contribute something towards so great a work. 3. I am fully aware of the responsibility of suggesting any general views at variance with received opinions. The whole history of science shows that men are always loth to abandon the venerable philosophic opinions in which they have been educated; nothing short of the most clear and rigid demonstration brought home to the conviction, being able to shake their faith in the favorite doctrines and systems of philosophy, such is the affectionate tenacity of the human mind. 4. In giving a preliminary sketch of the views I have been induced to entertain, without preceding them with the chain of inductive reason- ing and demonstration by which they have been arrived at, my object is at once to present the chief subjects clearly. That I do not build npon mere assumption, I shall take pains to make sufficiently apparent, before I finally conclude. H*Lf,